Local auto parts plant increasing production

ISE Innomotive Systems will add about 25 employees

By Patrick RupinskiBusiness Editor

Published: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | As Mercedes-Benz gears up to begin production of its first American-made C-Class sedans later this year in Vance, area automotive suppliers are beefing up their production of parts that will go into the new line of vehicles.

The latest to do so is ISE Inno-motive Systems U.S. Inc. It is adding new equipment at its plant at Tuscaloosa Airport Industrial Park at a cost of $5,782,000.

The new equipment will increase production and employment at ISE, which will add about 25 employees to its operations next year, said Dana B. Vails, the plant’s chief financial officer, controller and IT manager.

The company’s increased investment and the additional manufacturing jobs qualified it for $370,000 in local tax abatements for the plant improvements. The abatements were approved Thursday by the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority and include breaks on local sales and property taxes related to the investments.

ISE opened its Tuscaloosa plant in 2003, making front and rear bumpers for the Mercedes SUVs assembled in Vance, Vails said. It later started making components for other automakers, including rollover part systems for Volkswagen’s auto plant in Mexico.

The new equipment coming into the plant will be used mostly to make structural pillars for the C-Class, she said. The structural pillars support the roof of the car and help prevent roofs from collapsing in rollover accident.

The ISE project was the first to come before the industrial development authority this year, but Dara Longgrear, TCIDA’s executive director, told board members that he is optimistic about other projects in which companies are considering locating in Tuscaloosa.

Longgrear did not identify the companies, but he said one that is considering Tuscaloosa wants to build a $45 million plant that would create about 390 jobs. TCIDA’s undeveloped 75-acre tract at the Airport Industrial Park could be used for such a plant, he said. Before that site could be used, Tuscaloosa would have to invest about $1.6 million to extend sewer and water lines and related infrastructure.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | As Mercedes-Benz gears up to begin production of its first American-made C-Class sedans later this year in Vance, area automotive suppliers are beefing up their production of parts that will go into the new line of vehicles.</p><p>The latest to do so is ISE Inno-motive Systems U.S. Inc. It is adding new equipment at its plant at Tuscaloosa Airport Industrial Park at a cost of $5,782,000.</p><p>The new equipment will increase production and employment at ISE, which will add about 25 employees to its operations next year, said Dana B. Vails, the plant's chief financial officer, controller and IT manager. </p><p>The company's increased investment and the additional manufacturing jobs qualified it for $370,000 in local tax abatements for the plant improvements. The abatements were approved Thursday by the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority and include breaks on local sales and property taxes related to the investments.</p><p>ISE opened its Tuscaloosa plant in 2003, making front and rear bumpers for the Mercedes SUVs assembled in Vance, Vails said. It later started making components for other automakers, including rollover part systems for Volkswagen's auto plant in Mexico.</p><p>The new equipment coming into the plant will be used mostly to make structural pillars for the C-Class, she said. The structural pillars support the roof of the car and help prevent roofs from collapsing in rollover accident.</p><p>The ISE project was the first to come before the industrial development authority this year, but Dara Longgrear, TCIDA's executive director, told board members that he is optimistic about other projects in which companies are considering locating in Tuscaloosa. </p><p>Longgrear did not identify the companies, but he said one that is considering Tuscaloosa wants to build a $45 million plant that would create about 390 jobs. TCIDA's undeveloped 75-acre tract at the Airport Industrial Park could be used for such a plant, he said. Before that site could be used, Tuscaloosa would have to invest about $1.6 million to extend sewer and water lines and related infrastructure.</p>